Mrk Qrc Finalists 2018 Slider Image For Landing Page Trainees

WorkPac announced as Finalists for Queensland Resources Council Indigenous Awards

17/05/2018BY: Tracey Mesken

​WorkPac have been announced as finalists for the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) ‘Best Company Indigenous Employment and Training Initiative Award’ for their ‘Murri’s in the Mines’ initiative, which is run by the company’s Indigenous division JobTrail.

The award is focused on acknowledging companies who have successfully developed strategies which boost attraction and retention of Indigenous peoples to the resources sector.

Development of WorkPac’s JobTrail division began in 2015, when WorkPac’s Founder and Chairman Phil Smart arranged a meeting with his longtime friend Albert Bowie and members of the senior management team to discuss how WorkPac could best increase their contribution to Indigenous employment.

‘Murri’s in the Mines’ has been a central initiative of the JobTrail team and JobTrail’s National Manager Julian Genn is pleased with the how it has developed since it launched in November 2016, with WorkPac’s Indigenous workforce growing 265% since that time.

“WorkPac and JobTrail started the ‘Murri’s in the Mines’ initiative as a way of encouraging Indigenous WorkPac employees to complete their traineeships and begin a career in mining”.

“So far, thanks to the program, Indigenous trainees have started at mine sites in Central Queensland including Hail Creek, Middlemount South and Daunia, as well as in the Cape York Peninsula, in addition to a two-year traineeship offered to secondary students at a corporate mining office in Brisbane” he said.

JobTrail also ensures participants receive ongoing mentorship and support throughout their employment.

“At the majority of the mine sites, those participating in the programs receive mentoring from local Traditional Owners, we are constantly focused on these relationships”.

“We are also extremely proud to have former NRL player Scott Prince and AFLW player Ally Anderson as the Ambassadors for the program, meeting with participants to provide support and encouragement”.

Although proud of what JobTrail has been able to achieve thus far, Mr. Genn looks forward to expanding the ‘Murri’s in the Mines’ initiative.

“Regardless of the outcome of the awards, being announced as finalists is a positive indication that we are heading in the right direction towards our aim of creating a more fair and inclusive future”.

“Moving ahead I look forward to expanding the initiative and further growing Indigenous employment across the company’s entire workforce”.

The QRC Indigenous Awards will during Reconciliation week, on the 28th of May 2018. For more information on the awards, check out their website here